Archaeologists have discovered that early humans used ochre as a specialized tool for advanced stone toolmaking at Blombos Cave in South Africa during the Middle Stone Age, between 90,000 and 70,000 years ago. The findings, published in the journal Science Advances, challenge the long-held belief that ochre was primarily used for symbolic or decorative purposes. The discovery was made by Elizabeth Velliky, an archaeologist at SapienCE, while examining previously excavated materials at the research center’s laboratory in Cape Town.
Velliky noticed an ochre fragment with distinctive wear patterns that differed from the typical grinding marks associated with pigment production. She showed the artifact to her colleagues Francesco d’Errico, Karen van Niekerk, and Christopher Henshilwood, who confirmed that the piece had been intentionally shaped and used in a novel way. As the researchers continued to sort through the archaeological finds, they identified a total of seven ochre artifacts bearing similar marks.
These artifacts were dated to between 90,000 and 70,000 years ago.
Early humans used ochre tools
The study provides the first direct archaeological evidence that ochre was specifically crafted into retouching tools for shaping stone implements.
Experimental research and replication studies conducted by d’Errico and his team revealed that the ochre “retouchers” were used for pressure flaking and direct percussion, which are advanced methods for shaping stone tools. These techniques require a high level of dexterity and cognitive skill, particularly for the production of Still Bay points, which are known for their symmetry and refined forms. The ochre artifacts also show signs of rejuvenation, indicating that they were maintained in good condition over time, a characteristic typical of personal or curated tools.
The sophistication of these pressure flakers implies that they were the personal property of expert toolmakers,” d’Errico said. They may have functioned not only as practical instruments but also as indicators of identity and technical prowess.
Henshilwood, the director of SapienCE, emphasized the significance of the find, stating, “We now have evidence that ochre was not only a medium for symbolic expression but also a key material in specialized tool production, reflecting a level of technological sophistication previously associated with much later periods.
Van Niekerk, a co-author of the study and director of the Blombos Cave excavations, added that this discovery contributes to our understanding of the behavioral modernity of early Homo sapiens in southern Africa. The study challenges the common assumption that ochre’s primary role in ancient cultures was symbolic, such as for ritual or body painting purposes.
Instead, it highlights the pigment’s functional versatility and its importance in the technological toolkit of early modern humans.
Deanna Ritchie is a managing editor at DevX. She has a degree in English Literature. She has written 2000+ articles on getting out of debt and mastering your finances. She has edited over 60,000 articles in her life. She has a passion for helping writers inspire others through their words. Deanna has also been an editor at Entrepreneur Magazine and ReadWrite.
